Summer events in Berlin
As soon as the sun starts to shine and the mercury in the thermometer rises, Berliners head outdoors. Restaurants, cafes and bars spill out onto the wide sidewalks; parks and gardens overflow; and the city really puts on a show! There are carnivals, parades and festivals galore, alongside cultural and musical highlights and unique competitions and events. Among the classics are the •Carnival of Cultures (May 21-24), •Christopher Street Day/Gay Pride Parade (June 19) and the return of the •Football Fan Mile following the success of 2006 and 2008.
For music lovers there is • Classic Open Air (July 15-20) at Gendarmenmarkt, winner of the Live Event Award, which transforms this picturesque location into an open air concert space. •Bergmannstraßenfest (June 25-27) is a celebration of Jazz with more than 50 bands performing on three stages.
On the quieter side, the • 6th Berlin Biennial for Contemporary Art (June 11- August 
8) highlights international artists and their works, •the 10th Sandsation competition (June 6-August 29) sees the world’s leading sand sculptors battle it out and there’s also the •Long Night of Museums (August 28) which is a major draw for visitors. For a full list of events, please take a look at the •Berlin Tourism site. The only downside is that your calendar will be full on every weekend till September!